The world no.5 made a massive equipment change in the off-season and had a look at “everything” during a lengthy two-month playing break before returning with a top-30 finish to begin her season as good friend Hannah Green went on to a fifth career victory last weekend.

On the second leg of her Asian-swing, Lee put her foot down setting as produced the tournament’s best first round of seven-under 65.

Sent out in the very first group of the morning at the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on Thursday, Lee carded seven-birdies in her bogey-free round to flex some muscle early in her 2024 campaign.

Lee, 27, has a habit of doing well the week after her brother, fellow pro Min Woo, does well, and he finished second on the US PGA Tour last weekend, jumping to a career-high ranking of 31.

The duo are not both using Callaway equipment, which was part of Minjee’s off-season shake-up, which she conceded had taken some adjusting to.

“I actually touched on everything this off-season, especially with changes to my equipment to Callaway,” she said.

“Everything has been a little bit of a process of getting used to it. It’s going to take me a couple of events to knock the rust off and break those clubs in.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.”

Lee was the stand-alone leader after the morning session, one-shot clear of American Sarah Schmelzel.

Green opted against backing up, instead using the close proximity of her win to her hometown of Perth to make a flying visit.